Just a few short years ago, the east side of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, was seen as the gritty, industrial section of the city. The west side of the river, with Downtown Portland, the Pearl District and the beautiful West Hills neighborhoods, was the place for purchasing high-end real estate. But times have changed in Portland, and the Eastside is now a hot spot for commercial developers and design-savvy residential buyers.
With the implementation of Portland’s Opportunity Zone designation, the inner east side of Portland has seen an influx of new commercial development. This new development is required to include flex office space, the kind of real estate that many technology and design start-up firms love. The employees these start-ups attract are often the type of people who have the desire to live close to where they work, which has encouraged the residential market to step up its offerings to include the type of upscale homes these employees desire.
This combination of the commercial real estate boom and new residents flocking to the Eastside is actually perfect for this area, as it has always had wonderfully walkable neighborhoods, stylish retail enclaves and a collection of grand and eclectic homes.
“We’re seeing an influx of people moving to the inner Eastside from out-of-state, especially California,” says Elliott Moore, a broker with LUXE Christie’s International Real Estate. “People don’t want to live in the suburbs anymore. They want to live close to work and be in walkable parts of the city where they can easily shop and go to restaurants and theaters.”
That’s exactly what Portland’s inner Eastside offers. “There’s a lot of wealth and power on the east side,” explains Moore, who is a fifth generation Portlander and expert in the Eastside’s real estate market, “but it’s more demure than in downtown or the Pearl District.” Award-winning restaurants, a collection of craft breweries and distilleries, dog-friendly establishments, great public transportation, and active bike culture are just a few of the reasons people are looking to the east side of the river as a great place to live. “People want to live this life, and Portland’s Eastside has it,” Moore explains.
The picturesque, tree-lined streets of the Eastside’s many pocket neighborhoods have a variety of historic estates mixed with luxury condos, Mid-Century gems, and modern homes. And though many buyers don’t realize it, neighborhoods like Mt. Tabor and Alameda Ridge offer incredible views of downtown Portland, the Willamette River, and the Cascade Mountains.
Buyers looking for a high-end home in Portland have so many options when it comes to home style and location. “I know the Eastside like the back of my hand,” says Moore, “and LUXE Christie’s has a curated knowledge about luxury properties. We love helping buyers explore the area to find just the right home in just the right neighborhood.”
For more information about property in Portland’s Eastside, please contact Elliott Moore at 503.320.6582 or ElliottWMoore@LuxeCIR.com.
Photos courtesy of LUXE Christie’s International
